Fire Investigator Trevor Snider said damage to the house is estimated at $80,000 and he is conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire which was reported at 10:50 a.m.
“The blaze was brought under control in one hour with no injuries to civilians or fire service personnel,” Dawson said. “Unfortunately two pet dogs were in the structure when the fire broke out and perished.”
Recently, Jason L. Bryant, 43, of Hampshire Drive in Hamilton was indicted by a grand jury on several felony charges for allegedly setting a fire that caused major damage to three businesses in Hamilton Plaza lat November.
Bryant is accused of breaking out the glass to the entry doors early Nov. 1 at the BMV at 1720 S. Erie Blvd., and then a short time later he allegedly set fire to furniture inside Rent-A-Center, 2524 Dixie Highway in the Hamilton Plaza. The fire caused significant damage to the store and its contents, and caused extensive smoke damage to Family Dollar and A Chatti Hair Salon, according to Hamilton police.
Within 24 hours, a trash can was set ablaze against the CSL Plasma building, 3255 Dixie Highway. The fire was extinguished before the building sustained damage.
The second fire is how Hamilton investigators identified Bryant as a suspect.
Bryant is housed in the Butler County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 24 in Butler County Common Pleas Court Judge Noah Power’s courtroom.
About the Author